News
Edo PDP candidates unite against waiver for Obaseki’s candidate
As all aspirants of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gather in Abuja today ahead of the screening at the party’s headquarters in Wadata Plaza, a heated incident occurred in the waiting room as the screening got underway.
Aspirants under the platform of the party, forced Mr. Asue Ighodalo, a candidate allegedly sponsored by Governor Godwin Obaseki out for being rude to the Deputy Governor.
While all the aspirants were waiting, Mr. Ighodalo was alleged to have made derogatory remarks about the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu. Other aspirants quickly called him out, reminding him that he was insulting the office of the Deputy Governor and not Comrade Philip Shaibu. Despite their intervention, Mr Ighodalo insisted on making the remarks, prompting the Deputy Governor to walk him out of the meeting. In solidarity, all the other aspirants agreed that Mr. Ighodalo left the waiting room due to his disrespectful behavior towards the Deputy Governor’s office. Following this command, Mr Ighodalo stormed out.
In a related development, a mild drama unfolded in Abuja as all the aspirants and their supporters united in opposition to the party granting Mr Asue Ighodalo a waiver. The protesters argued that Mr Ighodalo had never voted in Edo State and therefore should not be allowed to run for election under the PDP banner.
The protest escalated, leading to the intervention of riot policemen who were called in to suppress the demonstration. The supporters of the aspirants warned that if Mr Ighodalo were forced upon the party in the state, it would be met with resistance and potentially spell disaster for the party’s standing in the region.
It is worth noting that the party’s national working committee had reportedly granted Mr. Ighodalo a waiver, a decision that many party members perceive as a clandestine effort to impose a candidate who recently joined the party and has neither voted nor actively contributed to its growth and sustenance in the state.
As tensions rise and protests persist, the future of Mr Asue Ighodalo’s candidacy remains uncertain, and the PDP faces the challenge of maintaining unity and trust within its ranks.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported its seventh partial grid collapse in 2024. Despite the recurring issue, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, reassured the public that efforts to restore power are well underway, with about 90% of substations receiving bulk power.
Mbah noted that the Azura Power Station initiated the grid recovery, although a minor setback occurred. However, power supply has been restored to the Abuja region and other key distribution centers. The Ibom Gas Generating Station remained unaffected, continuing to supply power to the South-South region.
An investigation into the cause of the collapse will commence once full grid restoration is achieved.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic tanker explosion in Jigawa State, which claimed over 100 lives. In a statement issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, extended condolences to the affected families, praying for strength and comfort in their time of grief.
Shettima assured the public that the federal government is mobilizing resources to support the injured and assist those affected. He has directed the immediate deployment of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide aid. The Vice President also stressed the need for a review of fuel transportation safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
In a separate statement, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu offered her condolences to Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi and the people of Jigawa, praying for peace and comfort for the families affected. She called the incident “unfortunate” and extended prayers for the recovery of the injured and the repose of the souls lost in the tragedy.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has revealed that it intercepted a total of 10,598 pieces of arms and 114,929 rounds of ammunition valued at N9.58 billion over the past six years. Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made this disclosure during a press conference on enforcement activities in Zone A.
Adeniyi highlighted that 60% of these seizures occurred in 2023, reflecting the Customs’ increased efforts to curb arms smuggling. He also mentioned that recent operations such as Operation Whirlwind and Operation Swift Sting are part of a strategic response to tackle evolving smuggling tactics.
In addition to arms seizures, the Customs CG announced the largest pangolin scale seizure since 2020, with 9,493 kg of scales confiscated in collaboration with the Wildlife Justice Commission. The joint operation led to four arrests across Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos. The NCS continues to intensify efforts against wildlife trafficking, targeting supply routes in northern Nigeria and border areas.
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